usurper
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of usurper
First recorded in 1400–50; usurp ( def. ) + -er 1 ( def. )
Explanation
A usurper is someone who wrongfully takes someone else's place. A usurper usually tries to take someone's place on the throne, rather than someone's seat on a bus. If you were married, and someone cheated with your spouse and then married your spouse, you would probably consider that person a usurper: someone who took your place in a way that's shady or wrong. A king who is overthrown would consider the new king a usurper. Usurper is a strong word for someone who has taken or usurped what rightfully belonged to someone else.
Vocabulary lists containing usurper
The Tragedy of Macbeth
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
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This Week in Words : January 19 - 25, 2019
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once Remick’s mentor, she now views him as an usurper.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026
Peng's children took over command of the MNDAA, waiting for the opportunity to oust Bai, in their eyes the usurper.
From BBC • Nov. 22, 2023
Mehmed regarded himself not as a usurper but as the rightful successor to the Byzantines.
From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023
Early writers considered Sponsian a historical usurper, who potentially made a bid for power during civil wars that ended the reign of another emperor, Philip.
From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2022
With their bright innocence I mocked his evil and called him usurper.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
